Sunday, 15 March 2009

Leading Green Party MEP candidate to speak at Southend CentralLibrary against Southend Airport expansion plans - Thursday 26th MarchLeading Green Party candidate for the European Elections, Cllr. Rupert Read, will be speaking at Southend Library on Thursday 26th March 2009against plans to expand Southend airport.

The Green Party is opposing expansion at Southend and other airports across the region because of the adverse impacts on the health and well-being of local communities, the impacts on the local environment and the additional climate-changing emissions from ever more aircraft in our skies.

Cllr. Read will offer alternatives for a sustainable transport policy that will enable people to travel in a way that does not endanger the well-being of others or of the environment.

Cllr. Read said,

"The Green Party would use money intended for airport expansion and channel this into modes of transportation that have a future, and that are truly sustainable over the long-term. Improving the railway infrastructure is the key Green transport policy and we would also invest more in the buses, walking and cycling schemes.

I know from personal experience just how bad the impacts on people can be of living next to a major airport. My mother lives under the Heathrow flight-paths. It is hard to get any proper sleep there at all some nights. And there is no escape from it. Do we really want the same thing in the East of England? Do we want Southend Airport to become a major airport, in addition to all the others that the Government wants to expand in this region, including Stansted ?

If I am elected as a Euro-MP for Eastern Region this June, I pledge to take all necessary steps to ensure that more planes do not blight our skies and our ear-drums through endless aviation expansion. In the meantime, I pledge to support the many people who live in this area who do NOT want a bigger, noisier SouthendAirport."

Cllr. Read will be joined by fellow speaker Kiti Theobald of Stop Airport Extension Now (1), and the event will commence at Southend Central Library on Victoria Avenue at 7.30 pm on Thursday 26 March. Everyone is welcome, whatever their views, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions.

Leading Green Party MEP candidate to speak at Southend CentralLibrary against Southend Airport expansion plans - Thursday 26th MarchLeading Green Party candidate for the European Elections, Cllr. Rupert Read, will be speaking at Southend Library on Thursday 26th March 2009against plans to expand Southend airport.

The Green Party is opposing expansion at Southend and other airports across the region because of the adverse impacts on the health and well-being of local communities, the impacts on the local environment and the additional climate-changing emissions from ever more aircraft in our skies.

Cllr. Read will offer alternatives for a sustainable transport policy that will enable people to travel in a way that does not endanger the well-being of others or of the environment.

Cllr. Read said,

"The Green Party would use money intended for airport expansion and channel this into modes of transportation that have a future, and that are truly sustainable over the long-term. Improving the railway infrastructure is the key Green transport policy and we would also invest more in the buses, walking and cycling schemes.

I know from personal experience just how bad the impacts on people can be of living next to a major airport. My mother lives under the Heathrow flight-paths. It is hard to get any proper sleep there at all some nights. And there is no escape from it. Do we really want the same thing in the East of England? Do we want Southend Airport to become a major airport, in addition to all the others that the Government wants to expand in this region, including Stansted ?

If I am elected as a Euro-MP for Eastern Region this June, I pledge to take all necessary steps to ensure that more planes do not blight our skies and our ear-drums through endless aviation expansion. In the meantime, I pledge to support the many people who live in this area who do NOT want a bigger, noisier SouthendAirport."

Cllr. Read will be joined by fellow speaker Kiti Theobald of Stop Airport Extension Now (1), and the event will commence at Southend Central Library on Victoria Avenue at 7.30 pm on Thursday 26 March. Everyone is welcome, whatever their views, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions.